Union Building (University of Texas at Austin)

Union Building

Alternative names| Texas Union Building, Student Union Building
General information
Town or city| Austin, Texas
Country| United States

The Union Building (also known the Texas Union Building or Student Union Building)[1][2] is a building on the University of Texas at Austin campus, serving as a "college independent community center" or "living room" for students.[3][4] Designed by Paul Cret, who also designed the Tower and Main Building, Goldsmith Hall and Texas Memorial Museum on the same campus, the Union was built in 1933 with funds provided by Texas Exes in a campaign led by Thomas Watt Gregory.[4]

Once constructed, the Union was one of four buildings on campus intended for recreation and entertainment, the other three being Gregory Gymnasium for Men, the Women's Gymnasium and Hogg Memorial Auditorium.[5] The building hosts a bowling alley and formal ballroom.[6]

## History

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In March 1930, Paul Cret was contracted to become the consulting architect for the University of Texas, followed by a second contact in June 1931 to design ten new buildings.[7]

## Construction

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The Union Building was constructed from smooth limestone and ashlar fossiliferous limestone.[8] The building is staggered and asymmetrical, as opposed to "classically balanced" like Battle Hall, another building Cret designed for the campus.[9]

## Cactus Café

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The Cactus Café[10][11] is a music venue and gathering place for students located in the Union Building, originally known as the Chuck Wagon when it opened in 1933.[12] In January 2010, the university announced plans to close the Cactus, claiming that closing the venue would save the university $66,000 in its $2 billion annual budget.[1][2] Concerned supporters formed the non-profit organization Friends of the Cactus Café with the purpose of raising funds to preserve the historic venue.[1] An arrangement was eventually made to keep the venue open under the auspices and management of PBS radio station KUT.[1]

## See also

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* Architecture portal
* Texas portal

* History of The University of Texas at Austin
* List of University of Texas at Austin buildings

## References

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1. ^ a b c d Bernier, Nathan (December 30, 2010). "Our Top 5 News Stories Of 2010". KUT. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
2. ^ a b Brick, Michael (February 5, 2010). "A 'Live Music Capital' Is Hearing Less Music These Days". The New York Times. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
3. ^ "Union Building – UNB". University of Texas. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
4. ^ a b "Info (TXU)". University of Texas. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
5. ^ "Recreation for 10,000 Students at Texas Union". The Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. October 20, 1939. p. 2.
6. ^ "Walking Tours: Strolling the University of Texas". Frommer's. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
7. ^ Holland 2006, p. 133
8. ^ Holland 2006, p. 135
9. ^ Jenkins, Mary (November–December 1982). "The Evolution of a Face". The Alcalde. 71 (2). Emmis Communications: 19–20. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
10. ^ Cactus Café & Bar - The Music Venue
11. ^ UT web site for Cactus Café and Bar
12. ^ Rossie, Cam; Hylton, Hilary (2009). Insiders' Guide to Austin. Globe Pequot. p. 127\. ISBN 9780762755684. Retrieved March 25, 2011.

Works cited

* Holland, Richard A. (2006). The Texas Book: Profiles, History, and Reminiscences of the University. University of Texas Press. pp. 133–135\. ISBN 9780292714298. Retrieved March 25, 2011.

## External links

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* Media related to Union Building (University of Texas at Austin) at Wikimedia Commons

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30°17′12″N 97°44′28″W﻿ / ﻿30.2867°N 97.7411°W﻿ / 30.2867; -97.7411
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